Galloway Family: Rowdy Gaines

Swimming is not big deal," Gaines said. "But it's amazing the lessons of life it can teach you. Dedication and determination. Those are two things I'll always live with."

It was such an honor to have Rowdy Gaines an Olympic three-time gold medalist come speak to our club swim team. Recently Rowdy and his family have moved back to Florida from Arizona. He was kind to let the local swim teams know that he would volunteer his time and come work with their team.

Rowdy was motivating and inspiring, I wish every child could hear him speak. He got in the pool with our team and taught them important techniques and worked with some individually. Then he had the team sit on the bleachers as he took the time to share with them his inspiring story and to motivate them to live their dreams. I was touched as he told the children that they all had a purpose here on the earth. Some might be doctors, teachers, maybe an Olympic swimmer but there is a purpose for them.

After Rowdy spoke to the 100+ swimmers, he signed a photo autograph with of him winning the gold medal in the Summer Olympics of 84. He also brought one of his three gold medals and let the children pass it around. It was a big hit with the team. You could see the swimmers eyes light up as they placed the medal around their necks.

I was also inspired by Rowdy's own life challenges. In 1991 he was paralyzed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Which happens to fall in the same family as my own auto immune disorder. Amazingly after two months in the hospital he recovered and built his strength back. Rowdy even qualified for 1996 Summer Olympics. Although in the end he chose to not compete in the trials for Atlanta but decided to continue working on his career.

After all Rowdy has accomplished he could be a little proud, but he remains humble. In the brief time he spent with the team and he seemed to be genuine and kind. On a personal experience I was able to see Rowdy's kindness. Much to my embarrassment Elisa cut to the front of the lengthy autograph line to see what the big deal is. That is when Rowdy and Elisa met for the first time. Of course Elisa charmed him with her sly ways and he lifted her on his lap and signed her an autographed photo. Later in the parking lot he couldn't get over how cute she was, even after she shredded his autographed photo. After all that he still remained smitten by her and wanted to take her home with him. Rowdy must be a saint! Oh yea, did I mention he is a Latter Day Saint. He is a convert to the church we go to, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.